Brick forms



Dec. 1, 1964 J. A. AUDIA 3,158,919

BRICK FORMS Filed March 8, 1963 Fig. l

John A. Audia l N VEN TOR.

BY gum and WW :5. m

United States Patent FQRMS .lolm A. Audia, Edward Malley, 221 N. Ray t., New tlastle, Pa, Filed Mar. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 263,779 2 laims. {=Ci. 25-121) The present invention is generally related to the molding of bricks, and is more particularly concerned with the provision of an adjustable means for molding or forming a plurality of bricks simultaneously.

Gne of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a form for a plurality of bricks which is adjustable in a manner so as to produce a variety of different height and length bricks.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also a significant object of the present invention to provide for the adjustment of the form or mold in a manner which requires no tools and only a minimum amount of effort and time.

Likewise, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mold which is readily and quickly collapsible for transporting or storage.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to pro vide a molding device which can be adjusted so as to simultaneously form a plurality of different size bricks or blocks.

Along with the above object, it is also an object of the present invention to provide a molding device wherein both corner and intermediate bricks can be simultaneously formed.

Also, it is an object of the present invention to pro vide a molding device which is simple in construction and capable of repeated use without any maintenance, aside from an occasional washing, being necessary.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequent apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FlG. l is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the molding device comprising the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the device of FIG- URE 1 with portions shown in section for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is a partial perspective view of one of the intermediate cross members having angular projections on both faces thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective View of an end cross member having flat projections formed on one face thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of an intermediate brick formed by the molding device of the present invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a corner brick formed by the molding device of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 1% generally indicates the molding device comprising the present invention. This molding device it includes a flat suppor ing base 12 which can, if so de sired, be a conventional vibrating table thus eliminating the use of any type of pallet.

Extending longitudinally on tne base 12 are two parallel transversely spaced angle bars or rails 14, these side rails 14 including vertically extending legs 16 and horizontally extending outwardly directed legs 18. The rails 14 are adjustable toward and away from each other wd releasably secured in a predetermined position by means of suitable clamps such as the C-clamps 28 illustrated in the drawings, these clamps clamping the horizontally exending legs 13 to the support base 12.

ice

Extending between the side rails 14 are a plurality of intermediate cross members 22, these cross members 22 being frictionally clamped between the side walls 14 in a manner so as to insure the vertical orientation of the members 22. Each intermediate cross member 22 consists of an upright elongated flat plate 24 having a plurality of angular projections 26 extending outwardly from both faces thereof, the projections 26 on each face being spaced slightly from each other so as to form vertical slots 28, the purpose of which shall be pointed out presently. As will best be appreciated from FIGURE 3, these angular projections 26 consist of two equal length legs 39 havin the free edges thereof welded to the face of the plate 24 and converging outwardly to the apex 32.

In addition to the intermediate cross members 22 having the projections 26 extending from both faces thereof, the molding device iii of the present invention also includes end cross members 34 and 36, the end cross member 3 consisting of ,a flat vertically orientated plate 38 having a plurality of angular projections 26 extending from only one face thereof, this being the face directed toward the intermediate cross members 22 upon an arrangement of the cross members between the side rails 14. This end member 34-, constituting the first cross member at one end of the side rails as shown in FIG- URE 1, is, in addition to being clamped between the side rails 14, further stabilized by two inwardly projecting tabs 49, one formed so as to extend inwardly from the adjacent end of the vertical leg 16 of each side rail 14, this tab 49 having the projection free face of the plate 34 engaged thereagainst.

The other end cross member 36, constituting the last cross member, consists of a vertical plate 42, a horizontal outwardly extending plate 44 integral with the bottom edge thereof, and a plurality of projections 46 on the inwardly facing face of the plate 42, these projections as consisting of a plurality of rectangular blocks spaced slightly from each other so as to form vertical slots 43,

these slots being of equal height with the plate 42. Further, inasmuch as the end cross member 1' 6 will in most instances be positioned at an intermediate point along the side rails 14, outwardly extending tabs 50' areprovided on each end of the vertical plate 42, these tabs being clamped to the adjoining vertical legs 16 of the side rails 14 by suitable clamp means 52.

As will be appreciated from FIGURE 1, the slots formed by the projections in all of the cross members are in alignment thus enabling the engagement of vertically orientated division plates 54 received within predetermined opposed ones of the slots depending upon the size brick desired. It will be noted that, in the particular arrangement illustrated in the drawings, the division plates 54 are inserted within every other slot, however, inasmuch as these division plates are only loosely received within the slots, it will be appreciated that they can be quickly adjusted so as to be positioned in any other desired manner, for example every slot, thus allowing for a variation in the height of the finished block, the length of the block being varied with equal ease by the adjustment of the spacing between the cross members, this adjustment obviously requiring the use of different length division plates 54. Further, it will be appreciated that inasmuch as both the cross members and division plates are adjustable, a plurality of difierent size bricks can simultaneously be formed.

FIGURE 5 is an illustration of an intermediate brick 5% formed with triangular recesses 58 at each end thereof, these recesses resulting from the angular projections 26 and being of significance as a means for receiving mortar or providing passages, for example for reinforcing rods, in a wad constructed of these bricks.

The block 643, illustrated in FIGURE 6, is provided with a recess 62 at only one end thereof, the other end 64 being flat, this flat end enabling the use of this brick 60 as an end brick, these end bricks 60 being formed between the end cross member 36 having the flat plates 46 thereon and'an intermediate cross member 22 having the angular projections 26 thereon.

In regard to these bricks, it is contemplated that their faces be brilliantly colored with the color impregnated for about the first Ms".

While the end cross member 34 has been described as having angular projections 26 thereon, it will be appreciated that if deemed necessary or desirable, this end member 34 can be provided with the flat plate projections 46, andconversely, the angular projections 26, if

so desired, can be provided on the last cross member 36, all of this depending upon the amount of corner blocks 60 deemed necessary for a particular situation. Furthermore, inasmuch as the present invention contemplates the skipping over of one or more of the slots so as to obtain the desired height of brick, these slots are of necessity of a relatively narrow width whereby there will be little or no tendency of the poured material 66 flowing into the slots, the division plates 54 of course being correspondingly narrow.

From the foregoing, it is considered to be readily apparent that a novel molding or form device has been defined, this device enabling the formation of a variety of different size bricks with the adjustment of the device being accomplished rapidly and without the use of any tools, all portions of the device being in clamping abutment with each other.' In conjunction with being able to use the device of the instant invention for the formation of a plurality of different size bricks, it will be appreciated that these different size bricks can, if so desired, be formed simultaneously by varying both the spacing between the cross members and the slots within which the division platesare inserted. a

The foregoingis considered as illustrative only of the I principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,

and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents .may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the inven tion as claimed.

' What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An adjustable brick molding device including a unitary substantially planar support surface, a pair of elongated side rails, means adjustably fixing said rails in parallel transversely spaced relation to each other on said support surface, a plurality of spaced parallel vertically orientated cross members, said cross members extending transversely between the side rails and being adjustable therealong for varying the space between the cross members, said cross members being maintained in position by a frictional clamping thereof between the side rails, said cross members includ ng vertical slots on both of the vertical faces thereof directed toward other of said cross members, the corresponding slots in each member being'in alignment with each other, and division plates ex.- tendiug between adjoining cross members, the ends of each division plate being removably positioned in a selected pair of opposed slots, said cross members each consisting of a vertical flat plate having a plurality of spaced projections on both faces thereof, the space between said projections constituting said vertical slots, the projections on said fiat'faces consisting of angle members, each of these angle members having substantially equal length legs, thefree edges of these legs being rigidly secured to a face of the flat plate withthe angle formed by the integral edges of the angle member projecting therefrom so as to form an angled recess in the end of a brick molded thereby.

2. The device of claim 1 including at least one additional cross member having spaced projections on one face thereof, said projections consisting of spaced flat blocks of a height equal to the height of the additional cross member so as to form a fiat end on a molded brick,

the spaced fiat blocks defining vertical slots correspond ing to the first mentioned slots for the selective reception of division plate ends therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fitzgerald n Dec. 22, 1959 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE BRICK MOLDING DEVICE INCLUDING A UNITARY SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR SUPPORT SURFACE, A PAIR OF ELONGATED SIDE RAILS, MEANS ADJUSTABLY FIXING SAID RAILS IN PARALLEL TRANSVERSELY SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER ON SAID SUPPORT SURFACE, A PLURALITY OF SPACED PARALLEL VERTICALLY ORIENTATED CROSS MEMBERS, SAID CROSS MEMBERS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN THE SIDE RAILS AND BEING ADJUSTABLE THEREALONG FOR VARYING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE CROSS MEMBERS, SAID CROSS MEMBERS BEING MAINTAINED IN POSITION BY A FRICTIONAL CLAMPING THEREOF BETWEEN THE SIDE RAILS, SAID CROSS MEMBERS INCLUDING VERTICAL SLOTS ON BOTH OF THE VERTICAL FACES THEREOF DIRECTED TOWARD OTHER OF SAID CROSS MEMBERS, THE CORRESPONDING SLOTS IN EACH MEMBER BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER, AND DIVISION PLATES EXTENDING BETWEEN ADJOINING CROSS MEMBERS, THE ENDS OF EACH DIVISION PLATE BEING REMOVABLY POSITIONED IN A SELECTED PAIR OF OPPOSED SLOTS, SAID CROSS MEMBERS EACH CONSISTING OF A VERTICAL FLAT PLATE HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED PROJECTIONS ON BOTH FACES THEREOF, THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID PROJECTIONS CONSTITUTING SAID VERTICAL SLOTS, THE PROJECTIONS ON SAID FLAT FACES CONSISTING OF ANGLE MEMBERS, EACH OF THESE ANGLE MEMBERS HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL LENGTH LEGS, THE FREE EDGES OF THESE LEGS BEING RIGIDLY SECURED TO A FACE OF THE FLAT PLATE WITH THE ANGLE FORMED BY THE INTEGRAL EDGES OF THE ANGLE MEMBER PROJECTING THEREFROM SO AS TO FORM AN ANGLED RECESS IN THE END OF A BRICK MOLDED THEREBY. 